Washington DC Shooting: Investigators Examine Motive After Two National Guard Members Ambushed Near the White House
Authorities in Washington DC are investigating a shocking shooting that left two members of the West Virginia National Guard critically injured just a short distance from the White House. Early assessments from police officials indicate that the incident appears to be the work of a “lone gunman” who carried out a deliberate ambush on Wednesday afternoon.
A Sudden Attack in a High-Security Zone
According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s assistant chief, Jeffery Carroll, surveillance footage from the surrounding area shows the suspect approaching the guardsmen without warning near the intersection of 17th Street and I Street NW. The attack unfolded around 2:15 p.m., while the guardsmen were conducting a routine “high-visibility patrol” as part of an ongoing and controversial deployment ordered by the federal government.
Carroll confirmed that both injured service members were quickly transported to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds. Other National Guard personnel stationed in the vicinity moved swiftly to detain the suspect, who was also injured during the confrontation and is now receiving medical treatment. Officials have not yet identified a motive, and investigators caution that it is too early to determine whether the shooting was ideologically driven or connected to broader tensions surrounding the current military presence in the capital.
Local Leaders Describe the Attack as Targeted
Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser called the shooting a “targeted attack,” while declining to draw early conclusions about whether it supports keeping additional guard troops deployed throughout the city. The capital has been hosting more than a thousand National Guard members from outside the district since August, a deployment that has drawn legal scrutiny and strong political controversy.
A Deployment Under Legal Challenge
The incident has reignited debates about the legality of the National Guard presence in Washington. Just last week, US District Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the deployment likely violates federal law prohibiting military forces from conducting domestic policing activities. Her decision ordered the withdrawal of all troops—more than 1,000 in total—but she temporarily paused the ruling until 11 December to give the Trump administration time to appeal.
The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argues that the administration overstepped its authority by sending out-of-state troops to assume roles traditionally handled by local law enforcement.
Defense Secretary Deploys Additional Troops Despite Court Order
Despite the judicial ruling, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced from the Dominican Republic that he had approved the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington at the request of President Donald Trump. Hegseth claimed the shooter had “targeted national guardsmen,” though no such conclusion has been confirmed by investigators.
West Virginia Governor Retracts Reports of Fatalities
Confusion briefly clouded the situation when West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced on social media that the two guardsmen had died from their injuries. Within minutes, he issued a retraction, citing “conflicting reports” from federal authorities and pledging to provide updates once clearer information becomes available.
Morrisey previously sent more than 300 West Virginia guard members to Washington DC in August as part of Trump’s declaration of a “public safety emergency,” a move that temporarily placed DC’s police department under federal operational control.
White House and Federal Officials Respond
Vice President JD Vance, speaking during a visit to Fort Campbell in Kentucky, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the shooter’s motive but stressed that the attack illustrated the risks faced by members of the US military, whether active duty, reserve, or National Guard.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau is now assisting local authorities in the investigation. “Please pray for them,” Patel said, noting that the FBI will release more information as it becomes available.
President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the shooting, describing the suspect as an “animal” and vowing that he would “pay a very steep price.” Trump also stated that both guardsmen and the gunman were severely wounded.
Investigation Ongoing
As the city awaits clarity on the condition of the injured guardsmen and details surrounding the suspect, federal and local officials remain on heightened alert. The shooting adds another layer of complexity to an already tense political environment, where questions around the deployment, legality, and role of the National Guard in Washington continue to spark national debate.